Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma (CDN FILE PHOTO)
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma is confident that the Filipino people will counter any plans by the Aquino administration to suspend the national elections in 2016.
Palma, former president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), believes Filipinos value their right to vote.
“As a democracy loving people and as a people who would like to believe our votes are important in the growth of democracy in general, no great number of people will wish there will be no elections,” the prelate told Radyo Veritas.
Palma said he is looking forward to the national elections and trusts in the voting public’s capacity to vote the right people into office.
Palma voiced his solidarity with the CBCP in denouncing proposals to amend provisions of the 1987 Constitution to extend President Aquino’s term in office.
Along with former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno, the Cebu Archbishop presided over the multi-sectoral People’s Initiative Against Pork Barrel in Cebu City which seeks to pass a law criminalizing the unregulated use of public funds. The signature drive in Cebu City collected 5,000 signatures. In a pastoral letter Palma said it is time for the people to use the referendum enshrined as a legal remedy in the Constitution because most legislators aren’t willing to abolish the pork barrel. He said the people have the sovereign right to craft a law that expresses their will.
Source: CBCP News
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